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Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA

Photo: Sewageboy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sports & Outdoors

Doheny State Beach

A popular Orange County surf beach with a visitor center, tide pool, campground, and paved beachside trail.

25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA, 92629 · Dana Point, CA

About Doheny State Beach

Doheny State Beach sits on the Pacific in Dana Point and is known as California's first state beach. Its northern end is a well-known surf spot with sand volleyball courts, a cafe, and a large grassy lawn with picnic areas. The southern end holds a campground, with some sites a short walk from the ocean, plus a tide pool and a visitor center with aquariums and wildlife displays. A paved trail runs along the sand, and painted life-size whales line part of it. Dogs are not allowed on the sand or in the water, except service animals.

  • #beach
  • #surfing
  • #camping
  • #tide pool
  • #visitor center

What's around here?

The closest stops to Doheny State Beach, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Dana Wharf Sportfishing

    $25–$50

    Whale watching, dolphin cruises and sportfishing charters departing daily from Dana Point Harbor.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari

    $50+

    Dolphin and whale watching cruises from Dana Point Harbor, including catamaran trips with underwater viewing pods.

    Transit: reachable by public transit

    1.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Museums

    Ocean Institute

    Under $25

    Non-profit ocean education center on the Dana Point Harbor waterfront with exhibits, touch tanks, and tall ship and research vessel trips.

    1.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sports & Outdoors

    San Clemente State Beach

    Under $25

    Oceanfront state beach at the south end of San Clemente, with tall sandstone bluffs and a historic Spanish Colonial cottage that serves as the visitor center.

    5.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors

    San Onofre State Beach

    Check prices

    A long coastal state beach south of San Clemente known for surfing, camping, and bluff trails.

    8.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sports & Outdoors

    Crystal Cove State Park

    Check prices

    A coastal state park with beaches, tide pools, inland canyon trails, and a historic cottage district south of Newport Beach.

    12 mi awayMore like this

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